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"Dimitri Belikov." My heart stopped. This is exactly what we didn't want to happen, at least before. It shouldn't be a problem now.

Dimitri told me once he wouldn't want to guard the princess with me, because he would have been able to protect both of us. He wouldn't have to protect me. Dimitri knew I could protect himself but he still said he would anyways. The night we were lying in the cabin when he told me.

"I would still try protect you too, your Rose-Logic always seems to always get you in trouble." He kissed my forehead and said I love you before we put our clothes back on. That was the last time he said he loved me.

I looked over to see Dimitri, his facial expression was calm and collected. When he stood next to me he stiffened a little. The three of us turned to face the Queen and bowed. We sat at our table again. I looked at Dimitri again, he shook his head to tell me not to say anything. I obeyed not wanting to cause a scene. A few Moroi later Christian was called up. He received his Diploma and turned to face the queen. The announcer spoke again.

"Lord Ozera is to now be known as the charge of Guardian Edison Castile." No one expected for him to a get a guardian. He wouldn't need one because he was living at court. After what Christian's parent did it was known as almost fact he wouldn't get a guardian. I was happy he got Eddie. The more level headed people in our townhouse the less likely I would go insane.

That sounds like an exaggeration but after Lissa's darkness blasted though the bond earlier, losing my sanity was a real possibility. Eddie and Christian sat down at our table again. I knew someone was staring at me I looked around the table. No one. What was Dimitri looking at, he looked calm but I could tell he was angry at something. I followed his gaze.

Tasha was sitting at the table with some other Ozeras. She wasn't looking a Dimitri, she was looking at me. No she was glaring at me. Tasha, did not like Dimitri getting assigned to Lissa either. Except I doubt we had the same reasons.

The rest of the Diploma's and Guardian assignments were given out within another hour. When the food was served, and my stomach felt like it was about to do summersaults. Some type of seafood was placed in front of me. I didn't even excuse myself from the table. I went outside because I didn't know where a restroom would be. I was gagging but I never threw up. I sat on a bench next to the front door.

To my surprise my mother was the first one to find me.

"Were you sick?" How did she know that was why I left the table? I never excused myself, but I was pretty sure I seemed inconspicuous when I was leaving.

"No, I was just, I don't know." I looked down at my feet.

"It's okay, this only lasts for a few months." That didn't make me feel better. I had forgotten my mother was probably the only person I knew who could give me advice that she didn't just find in some baby book. The thought of that upset me for some reason. In less than nine months I was going to be a mother just like her.

"Do you think I can do it?" I was surprised by the desperation in my voice. My mother looked at me with a surprised expression that turned into a look of understanding.

"Of course you can, I don't think I did a very good job as your mother" She frowned, "but look how you turned out. You've grown to be such an amazing person Rose." It wasn't exactly what I wanted to here but it still made me a little less worried.

My mother handed me a water bottle that I hadn't seen her holding earlier. "You can't eat the salmon you know. You're told to just not eat uncooked fish but even cooked, it just doesn't make you feel too good." I understood, I also didn't know that before. I would have went back in there and ate something that could hurt my baby without even knowing. Then I thought of something. My mother never got assigned to anyone.

"Why didn't you get a charge?" She sighed.

"I was wondering when you were going to notice that. I'm taking the year off, I have to take care of something. Then I'll be back at court living in the guest housing." I could tell she didn't want me to know what that something was.

"You could live with me and Lissa." I wasn't really sure if she would take the offer. I also didn't know if there would be room in the house for that.

"You don't have to do that. I'll be fine it would only be for a few months." The next thing I said surprised both of us.

"I want you to." Now I felt awkward. She didn't say anything at first.

"I would like that. She stood up and offered me a hand. I stood and felt a little wobbly. I was glad she pulled me in for a hug because I think I would have fallen over otherwise. The hug was brief but it was a lot for my mother.

As I pulled away I saw Lissa and Adrian standing behind her. I didn't realize the tear that had slipped out until I heard Adrian speak in a slightly sarcastic voice.

"Oh little dhampir, did your mother beat you up again." I glared at him and Lissa walked over and wiped my face with a napkin.

"Are you okay Rose? I gave her a small smile.

"Just a little nausea, did I ever mention I hate being pregnant." Lissa laughed at that.

"Do you want to go back inside now? They just cleared away the food and are bringing out desert." I smiled again and we all went back inside. When we got back inside Christian, Eddie, and Dimitri all had the same look of slight concern and relief. As we sat down a waiter with a tray full of chocolate cakes came and served us all a slice. All seven of us enjoyed the rest of the evening, only having light conversation.

When the night was over Dimitri stood up and spoke to the table. "I am going to get the van. Take as much time as you need no need to rush." None of us liked formal events like these so we quickly said our goodbyes and met Dimitri in the driveway in front of the hall. Tasha joined our group as we were walking outside. No one said anything to her. I don't think Adrian, Eddie, or my mother knew what she said to me earlier. I let myself look at her for only a moment. Her expression was calm and friendly. I felt seen her face in a twisted way. I thought she was someone I could trust all this time.

Tasha was the first one to get to the car. She opened the passenger side door. I was a few feet behind her and saw Dimitri looking at her with a stern look in his eyes.

"That's Guardian Hathaway's seat." His voice was cold and it caught me off guard. I had only ever seen him talk like that to Victor Dashkov. Tasha was surprised as well.

"Surely she wouldn't mind if I." He cut her off.

"No, she would mind especially after you spoke to Rose the way you did." My earlier theory about my mother being unaware of what happened earlier seemed a little unlikely at this point. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind getting you a taxi ride to the airport though." Dimitri was speaking in a way that was so out of character for him, it scared me.

"Oh Dimka, my flight isn't until tomorrow morning I need to go home and get my things." As she said that Eddie and my mother appeared with four suitcases. Tasha looked at them wide eyes.

"You can't throw me out of my own house." Christian was the one to speak this time.

"No we can't, but we can kick you out of MY house." He had his usual sarcastic tone but just like Dimitri his voice had turned cold toward Tasha. He held out a paper. "Remember you signed this, just this morning." It was the deed to the house, well Christian's half.

We all knew Tasha wasn't going to be homeless. She already had plans and would be out of the country by tomorrow. Lissa shocked me. Her voice wasn't like the others, I was controlled but very serious. She was using compulsion.

"If you ever hurt Rose or her baby ever again…" I felt the darkness resurfacing inside of her.

"Stop Lissa. Don't let her get you angry. The Darkness." She seemed to understand and relaxed but only a little. I climbed into the back seat of the van. Dimitri turned to me and gestured toward the passenger seat.

"Sitting in the front of a car helps with nausea, you can sit here if you want to." His voice had returned to the calm and steady tone in usually had.

I got out of the car again and pushed past Tasha and sat in the front seat. I felt like Tasha was gaze was burning into my skin. I turned away from her and looked at Dimitri. His face paled and he had a panicked expression wash over him. I spun my head around to see my mother pin Tasha to the ground. My neck and my shoulders were burning. The nausea I felt earlier was returning. I didn't understand what was happening the world around me seemed to be in a frenzy. Lissa was holding my hand. I felt the magic inside of her stirring. She was healing me, but why. What was wrong with me? The burning around my neck were intensifying and I felt vile rising in the back of my throat. I was barely able to swallow it.

Everything went black, but I could hear what was going on around me. I kept willing myself to open my eyes but the pain on my neck controlled me. Lissa was screaming at me telling me to wake up and I heard Dimitri yelling at my mother about a blindfold.

Lissa was trying to heal me. It stopped abruptly, either someone was stopping her or she completely drained herself. It was Adrian.

"Lissa stop it Rose is going to be fine you need to stop. Using spirt is only going to make her worse." Lissa knew he was writes "I'll try." Adrian wasn't very good at healing. Lissa let go of me and I felt Adrian's hand grab mine but nothing happened. "It's not doing anything here aura is still there so she's not unconscious. Yet"

After all of the commotion had died down I heard the Van door open and then close. The car drove somewhere I didn't know. The driver didn't speak but I knew who I was. I could smell his after shave. After a few minutes of silence he spoke up.

"Roza, I'm so sorry, I never should have left you, this shouldn't have happened." I don't think he knew I could hear him. "I promise it will be alright." He grabbed my hand and ran his thumb across my knuckle. "I won't leave you leave you ever again." His voice was full of guilt and sadness. "Love you, I always have." I mustered all the strength I could. I squeezed his hand and he tenses and then relaxed.

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